Salmonella Montevideo Outbreak Linked to Denny’s in Rochester MN

The Olmsted County Public Health Service and the Minnesota Department of Health are announcing a Salmonella outbreak linked to the Denny’s Restaurant in Rochester. Three cases of Salmonella Montevideo are confirmed and one case is suspected.

Investigators have not found a source for the bacteria. They don’t know if food was the cause of the outbreak, or if a customer or employee was sick and caused the illnesses with cross-contamination. An ill employee can cause an outbreak if proper hand-washing procedures and food safety rules aren’t followed to the letter.

The ill persons ate at the restaurant between June 27 and July 5, and were hospitalized beginning July 2 and 7, 2012. According to the news release, public health officials say it is safe to eat at the restaurant because county and state officials have cleaned the restaurant, sanitized surfaces, discarded suspect foods, excluded ill employees, and implemented glove use.

If anyone has eaten at that restaurant and become ill, see your health care provider immediately. Your case may solve the mystery of the outbreak. Symptoms of Salmonella food poisoning include diarrhea, abdominal and stomach cramps, mild fever, nausea, and vomiting. The disease usually resolves in about a week, but some people become sick enough to require hospitalization.

It’s important that anyone who is ill not prepare foods for others. If you have had diarrhea, wait until the illness has completely resolved before working as an employee at a food facility or making food for family and friends.